kCCD Hosts Successful 8th National Lighting the Community Summitand White House Briefing on May 18-20, 2015

From May 18 through May 20, 2015, Korean Churches for Community Development (KCCD) held its 8th National Lighting the Community Summit in Washington, D.C. at the Hilton Garden Inn.

Under the theme of "Shining Our Light: Building Our Leadership and Future Together", over 125 influential AAPI Christian leaders, from business, education, nonprofit,entertainment and other fields, attended, raising the visibility and profile of the AAPI Christian community to our nation's leaders.

Over the three day conference, participants were able to network in various opportunities from plenary sessions, workshops, Awards Gala, National AAPI Prayer Breakfast, visits with congressional members and to the Capitol as well as to the White House. Participants had the opportunity to engage with elected officials, White House officials, thought leaders and policy makers in advocating for and bringing awareness to needs and challenges in the AAPI community, while fostering partnership opportunities between the AAPI community and government and other entities as they learned of resources they had to offer.

Building on last year's historic invitation for AAPI Christian leaders to a White House Briefing through KCCD's leadership, AAPI Christian leaders were able to participate in the White House Briefing for the second time.

This year, KCCD highlighted and advocated various key issues that affect the AAPI and greater community, including racial inequality and justice involving 'Black Lives Matter, Asian Lives Matter', peace and security on the Asian Peninsula including North Korea,human trafficking,mental health, and immigration, affordable housing.

Please see below for highlights of the conference by each day! ​

Day 1 - Opening Night and Reception

The 8th National 'Lighting the Community Summit' Opening Reception Dinner, held on May 18,2015 opened with Hyepin Im, KCCD President and CEO, welcoming all the participants with KCCD Board Co-Chairs Sandra Ko and Rev. John Jongdai Park after somespecial performances byDa Deulin Praise Dancing Association all the way from South Korea, AMP and Rev. Won Jik Cho.

Dr. Tanmay Pramanik, Transnational Association of ChristianColleges and Schools with others leading worship

Opening remarks were given by Acacia Salatti, Director of the Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Mark Keam, Delegate of the Virginia House of Delegates representing the 35th District. Delegate Keam stated, "You are here to talk about some very important issues facing our nation. You are going to be talking about racial inequality issues. Asian American aspect of that, sometimes the AA become the unfortunate victims of it-societal inequalities, education inequalities, mental health and at-risk youth. I'm glad you're here because we need your voice in every one of these conversations. These are public policies as well as social issues and they need peoples' voices especially today when we're lacking leadership. To have conversation is the first step but the second step is faith in action. Words alone makes great sound but is empty and hollow. So what you're doing here the next two days is understanding one another, especially those who are not as familiar with the Asian culture and the issues they're facing. Understand that these issues are your issues. That we are all our brothers' keepers.

Afterward the opening remarks, a special panel of influential faith leaders shared their insight on the subject of Power of Churches and Society. Speakers included Jim Wallis, Founder/President of Sojourners, Abraham Hernandez, Vice President of Northeast U.S. of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, David Beckmann, President, Bread for the World, Dr. Carroll Baltimore,President, Global Alliance Interfaith Networks, Rev. Mitchell Hescox, President and CEO,Evangelical Environmental Network, and Katleen Davis-Siudut, Director of Strategic Initiatives at Polaris. The panel was co-moderated by Hyepin Im, KCCD President andTim Haahs, President of Tim Haahs & Associates and a U.S. Presidential Appointee and KCCD Donor Advisory Board.

Some notable quotes included:Jim Wallis of Sojourners- "God is personal but never private. He wants a relationship with us intimately. He knows everything about us but wants a relationship anyway. But why? To change the world. To take our faith in our world and change it. How do we as a people of faith make sure the image of God, which is in all of us, is respected and protected and saying whose lives need to matter. It's a wonderful thing to be in this conversation, how we can make all lives matter."

Abraham Hernandez of National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference - "We want to bring heaven here on earth. We can't just think about John 3:16 but also have to think about Matthew 25. When is the Hispanic churches going to rise and spearhead a movement which will transform inner cities? The cross is the universal symbol - has the vertical and the horizontal - Churches started saying why can't we do both, why do we have to do either/or. And while we're here let's go and impact society. It's time for us to leave the four walls and start impacting society."

​After the panel, Sam George, Executive Director for Parivar International, presented on The State of the Asian American Community. He shared, "Some data to note are that Asian Americans are the fastest growing group in the United States. Asian Americans are more diverse than you think within the United States. Issues within the Asian American community include high rate of suicides, mental health stigma of shame, rising poverty levels, race violence, and being uninsured, unemployed, and homeless."

The opening night concluded with a Vision Networking Session and Closing Worship.

Special Performance by Rev. Won Jik Cho, Pastor/ Saxophonist, Ramnent Methodist Church

Special Performance by Da Deulim Praise Dancing Association from South Korea

Opening Remarks by Mark Keam Delegate for Virginia House of Delegates, 35th District

Special Remarks by Acacia Salatti, Director, Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services

Special Performance by AMP

Vision Networking Session

Day 2 - Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) National Prayer Breakfast

The second day of the Summit opened with the National AAPI Prayer Breakfast during which officials from the White House and federal agencies shared about their work and their faith journey. The participants also had chance to pray for our nation's leaders including the government officials as well as pray for the next generation of leadership. There was also time to pray and reflected on current issues faced by AAPI communities. Some prayer topics included, Prayers for the nation, for President Obama and other government leaders, Prayers for Color of Justice and Race Relations, for Black Lives Matter, Asian Lives Matter, and Prayers for Peace and Security on Asian Peninsula and the World, among others.

Bo Choi, Worship leader at HOPE Church leading worship and praise

Message from Kenneth Bae after Release from North KoreaOne highlight of the prayer breakfast was a special video message sent by Kenneth Bae who expressed his appreciation for those who prayed and advocated for his release along with an update on his current situation. At the 2014 conference, the conference attendees prayed for and advocated for Kenneth Bae's release from North Korea to the White House. His sister, Terri Chung, attended the 2014 conference as a speaker to update and advocate for her brother.

Prayer for the Nation - Left to right: Mark Brinkmoeller, Director of Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives, USAID;Jay Chung, KCCD Donor Advisory Board Member, Dr. Jannah Scott, Deputy Director, Center for Faith Based Neighborhood Partnerships,U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and James Yu, Lead Pastor at Community Christian Center of Los Angeles

Priscilla Baek speaking on Prayer for Color of Justice & Race Relations and her personal story of her parents owning a convenience store

Prayer for Color of Justice & Race Relations led by Lovely Varughese, Community Activist, whose son Praveen was killed with questionable police follow up.

Prayer for Peace and Security on Asian Peninsula and the World led by Dr. Jai Poong Ryu, Co-Chairman, One Korea Coalition

Christina Li, State Department, speaking on Peace and Security on the Asian Peninsula and the World

Timothy Haahs, Summit Honorary Co-Chair/President, Tim Haahs and Associates, Inc. giving a special message on the Power of Prayer

Jimmy Chae, Minister at Tribe/NT2 and Steve Sun Cho, Lead Pastor,Ocean City Church praying for Peace and Security on the Asian Peninsula

Prayer for Human Trafficking led by Christopher Ljungquist, National Outreach and Education Coordinator, Anti-Trafficking, U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops

Prayer for Mental Health led by Richard Kim, KA UMM National President, General Commission on United Methodist Men, United Methodist Church

Stephen Lewis, President, Forum for Theological Exploration (left) and Galen Carey, Vice President of Government Relations at the National Association of Evangelicals (right) leading prayer on race relations

Prayer for the Next Generation
From left to right: Rev. Young-hee Chung, Senior Pastor of the Wilshire United Methodist Church,Grace Choi, Advisor for Secretary's Office on Global Women Issues, U.S. Department of State, Sekwon Chong, Honorary National President of the KoreanAmerican National Foundation, and Ken Kong, Director of Southeast Asian Catalyst sharing their heart and praying for the next generation

Plenary Panel: Navigating Government, corporate, and Media Resources

Speaker Introductions & Overview by Hyepin Im, KCCD President and CEO - Various government agencies,foundations and corporations sharing their one minute overview before breaking out into workshops!

Workshop 1
Housing & Homelessness

Workshop 2
Business, Community Development,
Environment, and International

Vision Networking Session

Annika Yeo, KCCD Donor Advisory Board Member,leading prayer

Great networking and visioning together led bySo Young Kang

Great discussions for future collaborations

Speed Networking Competition

Moderated by Hyepin Im, KCCD President and Kara Inae Carlisle, Director of New Mexico Programs, W.K. Kellogg Foundation,Participants were trained how to present 1 minute introduction and advocacy for their cause to potential funders. Through series of eliminationsdetermined by audience vote and input from judges, the ultimate winner received a cash prize!

Sam Koh, Lead Pastor of Hillside EM at LACPC

Judging Panelists

Speed Networking Competition

Speed Networking Winner & Judges
So Young Kang (winner)

Special thanks to our Judging Panelists

Piyachat Terrell, Pathways Program Officer, AAPI Special Emphasis Program Manager, National Recruitment And Outreach Specialist U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Mark Brinkmoeller, Director of Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives, U.S. Agency for International Development

Stephen Lewis, President of Forum for Theological Exploration

Congratulations to our Speed Networking WinnerSo-Young Kang!

Day 3 - White House Briefing

On the final day of the 8th National 'Lighting the Community Summit, participants had the opportunity to visit the White House for a briefing from White House officials and representatives from federal agencies on key issues concerning civil rights, education, health care, domestic violence, and immigration. Participants were also active in raising awareness and advocating for issues impacting the AAPI community. Official presenters included Hyepin Im, KCCD President and CEO, Ashley Allison, Deputy Director of Public Engagement, The White House; Manar Waheed, Deputy Policy Director for Immigration, White House.

Post White House Debriefing

After the white house briefing, a debriefing and organizing session was held with key leaders for lessons learned,​highlights of the conference and next steps.

Faith and Community Impact Awards Gala Dinner

Musical group PLO 3:16 leading praise

The 8th National 'Lighting the Community Summit' closed with the Awards Gala Dinner in which five honorees were presented with Faith and Community Impact Awards for their distinguished contributions and impact in society. The honorees shared their inspirational and compelling journeys of faith and service. This evening was also joined by many elected officials including U.S. Congressmembers Judy Chu, Ted Lieu, Charles B. Rangel, and Mike Honda as well as Councilmember Grace Han Wolf, Hernon Town Council, Commonwealth of Virginia.

Faith and Community Impact Awards Gala with Honoree, U.S. Congressman Ted Lieu

Special Remarks by Councilmember Grace Han Wolf, Hernon Town Council, Commonwealth of Virginia

Special Remarks byCongressman Mike Honda, U.S. House of Representatives,
California, 17th District

Special Remarks byCongresswoman Judy Chu, U.S. House of Representatives,
California, 27th District

Young Ambassador Jae Yun,Student at Los Angeles City College

Dr. Russell Jeung, Professor at San Francisco State University introducing Honoree Steven Park

Honoree Profiles

Steven Parkfounded Little lights Urban Ministries in 1995 after meeting underserved children and youth near his parents' business in NW, DC. Starting with no funds, nor any experience in the non-profit sector, he has grown the organization to 10 full-time, and 40 part-time staff members in addition to hosting over 10,000 hours of volunteer work annually. Little Lights currently serves families at two public housing complexes where the annual family income is 9,000 dollars or less per year.

W.K. Kellogg Foundationfounded in 1930 as an independent, private foundation by breakfast cereal pioneer, Will Keith Kellogg, is among the largest philanthropic foundations in the United States. Guided by the belief that all children should have an equal opportunity to thrive, WKKF works with communities to create condition for vulnerable children so they can realize their full potential in school, work and life.

Dr. Dilip Joseph medical work spans internationally with internships and work experiences in both public health and clinical medicine. In particular, he is responsible for training the medical staff, evaluating and improving medical services, and expanding medical efforts through networking and fundraising so that he can help many more afghans who do not have access to health care. His book on his harrowing captivity and escape from the Talibans is an inspirational testament of faith and courage.

Congressmember Ted Lieuwas elected to an open seat for the 33rd Congressional District in 2014. Congressmember Liu's legislative accomplishments include co-sponsoring landmark legislation regulating the subprime mortgage industry, state tax reform that saved reform that saved small businesses from billions in retroactive taxes, increasing planning for climate change, increasing tax incentive for film/TV production and banning the state from investing in or doing business with companies doing business with Iran.

Congressmember Charles B. Rangelhas spearheaded the passage of the United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement (aka KORUS FTA) in 2007 and has championed numerous legislation important to the the community, such as a resolution Encouraging peace and reunification on the the Honorary Chairman of the Congressional Caucus on Korean, and a proud member of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus.